WHAT MANNER OF LOVE!
By Bishop Mike Okonkwo
Monday 18th April 2022
“So, he returned home to his father. And while he was still a long way off, his father saw him coming. Filled with love and compassion, he ran to his son, embraced him, and kissed him.”
Luke 15:20 (NLT)
Upon the return of the prodigal son, his father ran to embrace him out of love and compassion. According to the Jewish law and culture, it was forbidden, and the pit was very disgraceful for a father to run in public. How much more when he ran to a rebellious son. Following the tradition of the day and because of what had transpired, the son would have been welcome to a ceremony of shame. But rather than allow that, his father reached out to him in love. He extended grace to him even when the law condemned him. Even with his filth from living with pigs, the father still embraced and kissed him. Oh, what manner of love!
Child of God, the Father loves you dearly. It does not matter the extent of filth that you carry, He still loves you and is watching out for you. God is love! So, God cannot do anything but love. However, for a very long period, religion painted a picture of a God who is looking out to strike you down when you fall short. But that is not the case. He loves you dearly irrespective of you. He knows you! He knows your shortcomings; He knows your weaknesses! He knows your antecedents even more than you do. Yet, He still extends His unconditional love to you. Apostle Paul writes in Romans 8:35 says: “Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or peril, or sword?”.
Beloved, even in sin, God’s love for you has not and cannot change. Yes, you may have made a mistake, but He loves you regardless. And His love reaches out to you. He has loved you with an everlasting love. In other words, a love that will never run out or dry up. The Father’s love for you is forever, unending, and eternal.
The love of God will open doors for you wheresoever you go. The love of God will cause rivers to flow in your desert.
Further Reading: Luke 15:11-32; I John 3:1-3
Daily Bible Reading: Morning- 2 Samuel 3-5; Evening- Luke 14:25-35
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